Saturday, March 21, 2009

The rally organised by the CPI(M) in Delhi last week to protest against Israel’s bombing of Hamas establishments in Gaza was both comical and revealing. There was a crowd of mullahs in skull caps, their hennaed beard neatly combed, waving placards with an assortment of printed slogans, the least offensive of which said “Israel is the real terrorist”. And there was CPI(M) Polit Bureau member Brinda Karat, clearly a class apart from the mob she had gathered to denounce ‘Zionist aggression’. If the rally was aimed at instigating people to rise in protest against the justly deserved punishment being meted out to Gaza’s Islamofascists for whom peace is a five-letter dirty word forbidden by the perverse ideology of Harkat al-Muqawamat al-Islamiyyah (Islamic Resistance Movement), otherwise known as Hamas, then it singularly failed in achieving its goal. For a change, barring professional protesters and European busybodies — most of whom, like the CPI(M)’s mullahs at home, nurse a hatred of Jews — the world would like to see the organisation and its top leaders, including Khaled Mashaal, Ismail Haniyah and Mahmoud Zahar, neutred if not liquidated.

But if the rally was meant to instigate the United Progressive Alliance led by the Congress into castigating Israel, Ms Karat’s effort was not entirely wasted. Displaying the deep-seated bias of its political masters, the Ministry of External Affairs has issued a statement, expressing its ‘disappointment’ over “the use of disproportionate force ... resulting in a large number of civilian casualties on the one hand and the escalating violence on the other”. The statement gratuitously adds, “This continued use of indiscriminate force is unwarranted and condemnable. The Government of India urges utmost restraint so as to give peace a chance as the peace process may well get derailed irreversibly by Israel’s attack in the Gaza strip and continued violence.”

It is pathetic that a crippled, effete and politically-compromised Government that cannot protect its citizens from the repeated depredations of Islamofascists, an irresolute regime that whimpers as Pakistan kicks India in the face, should worry about “the use of disproportionate force” by Israel to protect its people from Hamas’s deadly attacks. These are not well-meaning words advocating restraint, but words that have been craftily selected to send a message of encouragement to those who kill and destroy in the name of Islam — a message of solidarity with fanatics in Gaza and elsewhere, for instance those whom the CPI(M) rallied in an extraordinary show of unity between Marxists and Islamists. Progressives, it would appear, are now at peace cohabiting with fundamentalists who wish to supplant the banner of liberty with the standard of jihad. A Government that commiserates with Harkat al-Muqawamat al-Islamiyyah cannot be seriously seeking the prosecution of either Jaish-e-Mohammed or Lashkar-e-Tayyeba. By criticising Israel’s decision to exercise its right to act in self-defence against a hostile neighbour, a right enshrined in Article 51 of the UN Charter, the Government of India, such as it is, has forfeited its right to defend the sovereign entity called India. In a sense, the sudden spurt of anti-Israel statements, strident and hostile in tone and content, explains the shameful non-action of the Government, more specifically the Prime Minister and his men, in the face of grave, unpardonable provocation by the ideological brothers of Hamas in Pakistan and their patrons who dominate the Pakistani establishment. The robust response that was expected of mighty India after the fidayeen attack on Mumbai and the resultant slaughter of innocent civilians is now being carried out by tiny Israel against its tormentors.

Death and destruction caused by war never present a pretty sight. In fact, there’s nothing called a perfect war in which the good men go in and shoot dead the bad men and both victor and vanquished celebrate by breaking bread together. In an asymmetrical war, which is forced on nations that subscribe to democracy, pluralism and open society, by Islamofascists who dream of converting the entire world into a caliphate where only the ‘believers’ shall dwell, the images we get to see are often more shocking. We are repelled by the sight of the bodies of 10 children being pulled out from the rubble of a house in Gaza after an Israeli air raid. That is the way it should be. But blinded by our bogus grief and manufactured fury over ‘civilian casualties’ in Gaza, we miss the other details of the bombing in which the 10 children died. We thus ignore the fact that the house belonged to a Hamas strongman, Nizar Rayan, who had dedicated his life to the destruction of Israel; that he lived there with his four wives and 12 children; and, that he dared the Israelis to try and target him. That’s what the Israelis did last Thursday, despatching him to the other world. Yes, there was collateral damage: His four wives and 10 of his 12 children were killed. This is the price that has to be paid by those who engage nations in an asymmetrical war, a battle among unequals which must be fought decisively and to its bitter end if the poison tree of radical Islamism is to be destroyed root and branch. If we must grieve over Nizar Rayan’s slain children, we should also grieve for the many other children whose lives have been laid to waste so wantonly by Islamofascists whose repulsive ideology justifies the slaughter of innocent people, among them Israeli men, women and children.

The truth is those at home and abroad who weep over Gaza’s ‘sorrow’ have no tears to spare for the victims of Hamas’s terrorism, the ferocity and intensity of which can be gauged from the fact that there has been a 500 per cent increase in the number of rockets it has been firing into southern Israel ever since the 2005 unilateral disengagement by then Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. This is not dissimilar to the manner in which human rights activists in India come to the rescue of terrorists, as demonstrated by their campaign to protect the ‘rights’ of Mohammed Ajmal Amin Kasab, the ‘Butcher of Mumbai’. Must we listen to them and be distracted from achieving the larger goal of ridding the world of those who do not believe in peace and for whom faith is an expression of unbriddled savagery? Israel is doing what it believes is right; it is fulfilling its primary duty, which is to protect the lives of Israeli citizens. We can either learn a lesson from Israel’s commitment to the war against global terror and join the battle, or shut up and suffer in silence.

TALK BACK

Black and WhiteBy Raj on 1/5/2009 12:03:24 AM

I don't think this is a story of black and white, there is lots of politics going on here from both side... Israel is going to elect a new government in a month time and Hamas is playing its own politics of getting international sympathy by making its own citizen get killed in crossfire...LeT and Pakistan also wanted the same with India...

Outstanding articleBy Patriot on 1/4/2009 11:50:13 PM

Very accurate analysis by Kanchan Gupta.

"A just war..." is a "Dharma Yudh"!By G. Din on 1/4/2009 9:36:48 PM

It is so irksome to find some naive comments here such as "Israel has every right to defend itself but it should not carpet-bomb..." or "it should not lose the international sympathy". If the cancer has spread so wide, the limb must be excised and burnt to ashes! This Arab onslaught on Israel started the day she was born and has continued for well over 60 years. Where has this mythical International society been while she has been losing her sons and daughters?

High Time We Wake UpBy NSB on 1/4/2009 6:55:03 PM

Thank you Mr Gupta..A hard hitting article, which lays bare the hypocrisy of the so called Indian Intelligentsia and the 'Candle brigade'. Pakistan - whether with state or non state actors, has unleashed an antisymmetric war against India and it is high the Indian State wakes up - it should do all to protect its citizens and the state, there are no short cuts - diplomatic offensive all over the globe will not suffice - we have to take care of our own interests.

We are all Israelis todayBy Rakesh Kataruka on 1/4/2009 5:25:18 PM

The Indian government has taken the wrong side but surely the Indian people have not. In every other forum, blog that I read I see overwhelming support of the common masses for Israels right to defend herself. And all acknwledge that the death of children can never be condonedbut that is NOT intended or deliberate when Israel attacks unlike the terrorists who attack with explicit piurpise of killing civilians, women and children. I am sure that 2009 will bring back the right government in India

A super parallel exists in Europe too!By Jay on 1/4/2009 4:50:23 PM

Thanks Kanchan, for this article.

You have clearly demonstrated that this effete administration, nominally headed by No Man, is in no position to make such inane statements about Israel when it does not even protect it's own citizens. The sad truth is that Europe too is full of Karat's felllow travellers. Over the weekend, lots of UK and contienental European cities also witnessed such demonstrations led by an alliance of the Bleeding Heart Liberals (BHL), Mullahs and Marxists.

24 karat traitorsBy satbir on 1/4/2009 4:11:42 PM

The CPI/CPM/Maoist/Naxalite menace should be barred from political and public space. They provide little solution to our problems but shout the loudest when islamofascists are on the receiving end. Where is the protest for the Mumbai tragedy and countless acts of islamic terrorism? The double standards of these filthy specimens of homo sapiens is mid boggling.

Calling a spade a spadeBy Ameya on 1/4/2009 3:44:05 PM

Your article brings hope that at least some in India will awaken and boot out this mealy-mouthed Leftists-Islamofascists conglomeration. Today, the whole world is facing the problem of a hypocritical alliance of these antiquated ideologies. The Congress, the whimpering coward it always is, wasted little time in submitting to these wanton elements

Well Written, KanchanBy Proud Indian on 1/4/2009 2:52:39 PM

We are so damn foolish. We still continue to vote for these parties.

Brave, Mr. GuptaBy Bhavananda on 1/4/2009 9:43:27 AM

Well said.I've always believed that the UPA lacks balls to fight terror. The current comments on the Israeli offensive by the govt. also shows that we have no brains either !

Israel's fight is justifiedBy A.Seshagiri Rao on 1/4/2009 9:01:21 AM

Israel has got the right to defend itself from the Hamas attacks but it should not resort to carpet bombing killing innocents mostly civilians. Unless it stops its blitzkrieg there are chances of the skirmishes escalating into a full-blown war with Hijbollah’s entry clandestinely backed by Iran . The world sympathises Israel’s cause to protect its borders and to live in peace but Israel should not antagonize the international community by rejecting a ceasefire.

Now she is crying for the lives of terrorists not in India but in Palestine. These foolish Islamist will vote for her party if she lets some croc tears in the terrorists name. She had no time to have participated in Mumbai when or else where to condemn terrorists activities by her party voters. Husband and wife company is trying to hoodwink the general public, the real 'Admi seeking alms'.

We remember the 'Brinjal Carrot' letting out crocodile tears when the Kandahar hijacking was done and the hype she created against the then government thus making the government crippled to some extent seeing the popular sentiments turning against it. She is a vulture and we can see her likes where ever there is death and destruction. She is only looking for her own (CPM party's) vote bank in the next election.

Israel's action in GazaBy R.N.Swamy on 1/4/2009 8:32:32 AM

Excellent article. Brings out many home truths. Our Govt. will never learn anything. Will continue with "Muslims first" policy for getting some votes.

Shame on CPM & Brinda KaratBy Gopal on 1/4/2009 6:41:10 AM

Shame on Brinda Karat...She has time and guts to mobilise against Insrael, but where was she when Mumbai was attacked? Where was she when ethnic cleansing of Kashmiri Hindus in kashmir happned and still happening day-night? Where was she when blasts rocked Assam? She is hypocrite and believes in minorytism. It would be better if she joins NDTV along with Prakash Karat.

A just war against Hamas in GazaBy S. Sarker on 1/4/2009 4:31:17 AM

The article authored by Mr. Kanchan Gupta has properly articulted Israel's inalienable rights to defend its citizenry against the barbaric HAMAS who have no regards for the existence of the Jewish people. The terrorist HAMAS folks are getting the same dose of medicine as they have unjustly heaped on the peaceful people of Israel. It is high time that the Indian leadership learns some lessons from a truly friendly nation, Israel, in taking stern actions against the home-grown and cross-border terrorism

A just war against Hamas in GazaBy Abhiha Marathe on 1/4/2009 3:17:33 AM

I totally agree with Mr. Gupta's opinion. The terrorists must face the cost of hiding among civilians and using them as shields. The civilian population must also pay the price of sheltering terrorists. The cost of not fighting with terrorists is far greater than that of fighting.

Excellent ArticleBy AK on 1/4/2009 1:22:43 AM

A very incisive view by Mr. Kanchan Gupta. India does not have any moral or political right to whine about Pakistan not acting on terrorists originating from there, when it makes such dangerous and gratuitous statements about Isreal defending its own territory from radical islamic terrorists.

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